Exercising device having a normally horizontal lever movable upward against spring resistance



. D. DRAKULICH 3,471,146 EXERCISING DEVICE HAVING A NORMALLY HORIZONTALOct. 7. 1969 LEVER MOVABLE UFWARD AGAINST SPRING RESISTANCE Filed NOV.29. 1966 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVEN TOR DUKE DRnKQUl- Sv ohw w-Huam}ATTORNEY Oct. 7. 1969 D. DRAKULl CH 3,471,146

EXERCISING DEVICE HAVING A NORMALLY HORIZONTAL LEVER MOVABLE UPWAHDAGAINST SPRING RESISTANCE v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 29, 1966 'llll S'zPhsns ATTORNEY United S ws Pat H ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A secondaryframe is mounted for vertical adjustment on three vertical frame membersarranged in a triangle on a base. A lever is pivoted on the secondaryframe close to one of the vertical members and extends between the othertwo. The secondary frame has a horizontal cross piece below the lever,and coil springs connected between the cross piece and the lever. A stopon the secondary frame engages the lever to prevent it from moving down-I ward below a horizontal position.

The invention relates to an exercise device and more particularly to adevice intended for use in practicing the usual weight liftingexercises, which, however, relies on springs rather than weights.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a compact andinexpensive arrangement which enables the user to simulate various typesof weight lifting exercises, without the requirement for loose weightswhich are likely to be misplaced, or to fall, causing injury to the useror damage to the floor or other articles in the vicinity of the weightlifter.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which allowsfor a considerable number of different types of weight lifting exerciseswith an easy change from one type to another.

In general, the invention contemplates the use of a frame on which ispivoted a lever, the frame being composed of a stationary frame memberand a second frame member movable vertically to different positions onthe stationary frame member, the lever being mounted on the movableframe member and being drawn downwardly by springs, so that upwardpressure on the lever moves the lever to an upwardly inclined positionand stretches the springs and the resistance needed for the exercise isobtained.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fullyfrom the following description, particularly when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in side elevation an exercise device according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view; and

FIG. 4 is a detail of the spring connections.

The arrangement includes a base 2, up from which stand two front posts 4spaced apart from each other at opposite sides of the base and a rearpost 6 forming substantially an equilateral triangle with the two frontposts. The front posts 4 are connected at the top to the back post 6 bybraces 8, while the front posts themselves are connected by a curvedtransverse brace 10.

Sleeves 12 are vertically adjustable on the front posts 4, and can besecured in any adjusted position by set screws with wing nuts 14.Likewise, a sleeve -16 is vertically slidable on the back posts 6, andcan be secured in any desired position by a set screw and wing nut 18.There are horizontal frame members 20 welded to the inner sides of thesleeves 12, and at the ends of these frame members remote from the rearposts 6 are downwardly extending vertical frame members 22, connected atthe bottom by a cross frame member 24. Braces 26 extend upward at anangle from each end of the cross frame member 24 and are welded orotherwise secured at their upper ends to the inner sides of the sleeves12. The braces 26 are connected by a cross bar 28. The rear ends of theframe members 20 are connected by a cross frame member 30, which iswelded on the inner face of the sleeve 16.

Pivoted at 32 on a lug projecting from the cross frame member 30 is alever member 34 which is in the form of a rectangular tube, and into theend of which remote from the pivot 32 there is slidable a bar 36, theposition of which can be fixed by a set screw 38. This bar carries across handle member 40 having forwardly bent portions 42 and gridsections 44.

The handle 34 carries a cross piece 46, which is positioned above andcan engage with the horizontal frame members 20. Coil springs 48,preferably three in number,

.are connected between eyes 50 carried by the transverse frame member 24and books 52 carried by an angle iron 53 positioned below the crossmember 46 and Welded to it and to the frame member 22. By reason of thebooks 52, these springs can be connected or disconnected as desired, tochange the tension against which the lever must be operated. The crossbar 28 is located closer to the transverse frame member 24 than thelength of the coil springs 48, so that when these springs are not in usethey may lie against the cross bar.

A spring 54 is connected between a member 55 carried by the frame member10 and frame member 8 of the stationary frame section and the cross bar28, and helps to counteract some of the weight of the movable framesection composed of the sleeves 12 and 16, the horizontal parts 20 andthe vertical parts 22 and all the other parts connected or pivotedthereto. It is thus easier to raise and lower the movable frame part,since a part of this weight is taken up by the spring 54.

In the upper position of the movable frame, the device can be used forsimulating the military press and the reverse military press. With themovable frame at hip level, the device can be used to simulate the curl,the reverse curl and leg lift. When the carriage or military frame is atfloor level, the head lift and bench press can be practiced.

The resistance to be overcome can be changed by changing the number ofsprings which are hooked up, and by adjusting the length of the lever.Of course, if further variations are needed, additional springs ofdifferent strength could be used which would be stronger or weaker thanthose provided with the machine to begin with.

While I have described here in one embodiment of my invention, I wish itto be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby exceptwithin the scope of the claims hereto or hereinafter appended.

I claim:

1. An exercising device comprising an upstanding frame; a lever pivotedon said frame to turn about a vertically adjustable horizontal axisbetween a substantially horizontal position and an upwardly inclinedposition having a handle portion projecting a substantial distance fromthe frame; stop means on the frame engageable by the lever to limitdownward movement of the lever beyond said substantially horizontalposition; and spring means connected between the lever and the frameexerting a downward pull on the lever.

2. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said lever being pivoted to theframe at a point substantially at the side of the frame remote from theside from which the handle portion extends; said spring means beingconnected to the lever at a point between the handle portion and thepivot point.

3. In a device as claimed in claim 2, said spring means comprising atleast one coil spring extending downwardly from said lever.

4. In a device as claimed in claim 1, said frame comprising a firstfixed frame section, and a second frame section mounted on said firstframe section for vertical adjustment thereon; said lever being pivotedon said second frame section and said spring means and stop means beingsecured to said second frame section.

5. In a device as claimed in claim 4, said first frame section includingspaced vertical frame members at the side from which the handle portionof the lever extends; said second frame section comprising partsslidably mounted on said spaced vertical frame members; downwardlyextending members fixed with respect to the slidably mounted parts, abottom cross member secured at the bottom ends of the downwardlyextending members located on the side of the vertical frame membersopposite from the pivot of the lever and braces extending upwardly Vcomprising substantially vertical coil springs; said lever having across piece thereon on the side of the vertical frame members oppositefrom the pivot of the lever, said springs being connected at one end tothe cross member and being releasably connected at the other end to saidcross piece, and a rod connected to said braces at a point substantiallyhigher than the cross member but at a less distance from the crossmember than the length of the springs to .form a rack for springs not inuse.

-7. In a device as claimed in claim 6, spring means connected betweenthe top of the first frame member and the rod for exerting an upwardforce on the second frame member.

8. In a device as claimed in claim 5, said frame comprising a thirdvertical frame member parallel to said spaced vertical frame members andforming a triangle with said spaced vertical frame members, said leverbeing pivoted on said third vertical frame member and extending betweensaid spaced vertical frame members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,309 11/ 1940 Swanson 272-833,003,765 10/ 1961 Dove 272-81 2,819,081 1/ 1958 Touraine 27267 RICHARDC. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner WILLIAM R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner

